Colleagues,
I was at the New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning (NJALL) annual conference on Friday (a terrific conference, incidentally) doing a blended learning presentation on learning circles for adult basic skills learners, especially for learners on waiting lists for English classes, and I was asked a great question: Is there a good list of free or low-cost smartphone, tablet or computer apps for adult basic skills learners? Anyone have a link to such a list of apps? If so, please share it here.
Thanks!
David J. Rosen, Moderator
Integrating Technology CoP
djrosen123@gmail.com
Comments
Good question, David. I can't wait to see the list! Two resources come to mind:
1. Tech Soup - http://www.techsoup.org/ This site is a fantastic resource dedicated to non-profits that want access to deals in technology. Registration is free. Once a program signs up and is approved, the deals are endless. I buy a lot of software from TechSoup through my affiliation with a non-profit which I serve. For example, our program got Office 2016 for Mac for $25! The site often provides great sales on computers as well, especially refurbished ones, Right now, you can find a long list of available Windows and Mac computers at http://www.techsoup.org/refurbished-computers-catalog, ranging from $200 to a bit over $300. The list of apps for both platforms is also long and has great prices.
2. I just came across this grant site, which funds computers. Not sure about apps: http://interconnection.org/computergrants.php and http://interconnection.org/apply-now-grant.php - Computers - desktops or laptops pre-installed with Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010, with the following minimum specifications: Core 2 Duo processor / 2 GB RAM / 80 GB HDD. If you need higher specifications for your program requirements, you may request this in your application, detailing the need for high specifications based on what the computers would be used for. BTW, If you want funding for apps, Grant Station is a valuable resource for finding funding for different purposes. The cost of belonging to Grant Station is quite high($600 +?). However, Tech Soup (above) offers great deals twice a year, where you can join Grant Station for $99/year. The site also offers occasional deals for membership for slightly over that. They may have a deal going now.
What other choices are out there? More, more! Leecy
Thanks Leecy. That's useful information. However, I think the person who asked the question was primarily interested in instruction apps, not tools, for example for learning English, improving reading, writing or numeracy, preparing for an HSE test, and perhaps improving basic digital literacy skills.
Anyone know of lists of such smartphone apps for adult learners?
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Hi David,
I'm compiling a list of mobile apps and tools (including links to other's lists) here at: http://mobileupproject.weebly.com/mobile-instruction-resources.html
This is part of the MOBILE UP project in California looking at cell-phone first approaches to basic skills instruction and career coaching for low-wage immigrant service workers. Therefore we're looking particularly at tools for serving the needs of primarily ELL janitors, nursing home, homecare health workers, and hotel room cleaners. However many of the tools are relevant to teaching all demographics. We'll keep adding to it- we just started.
I look forward to seeing what others post here!
Hi Alison and others,
This is what I had hoped to find. It's a great start. I'd like to encourage others to look at this list, and if there is an app that should be added, if that's okay, please let Alison know.
Thanks!
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Hi Alison and colleagues,
This is a great list for ELLs. Thanks so much for sharing this info!
Liane
Yes, thanks David! We welcome feedback on the list! Not only of tools to use but of mobile learning professional development resources for teachers, etc.: aawebber@gmail.com
As I was going through the list of resources, I thought of a British YouTube series called "Learn English with Misterduncan" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_qg_KVByS0&index=1&list=PLF467B6C12B713A03). It's a little advanced, but any learner who can follow VOA should be able to follow this. I've heard native American English speakers use most of the seeming Briticisms, so it's appropriate for learners in the U.S.
On the subject of VOA, many media outlets (CNN, USA Today, NBC, ABC, etc.) have apps which can be used by learners to simultaneously improve their English and keep up with current events for free on any device.
In case you are interested in knowing more about the blended learning model using Learning Circles, take a look at this blog post on the English Now! project at http://thewell.worlded.org/learning-circles-address-wait-lists-for-english-classes/.
David, My ESL students appreciate a program we use in our Lab, called https://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/. There they can launch modules to teach them about digital literacy, a good start for most students who don't even have a computer at home. We can then migrate to http://winbeginners.com/, where they can learn about Windows.
Thanks, Kathy. I am very familiar with the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment: I like it myself, and am glad you find it useful. I haven't seen or used winbeginners.com however, so thanks for sharing that. I'll take a look. Have you ever looked at GCF Learn Free https://www.gcflearnfree.org/ ? A lot of adult ESL teachers like it. Also, there are more digital literacy resources on the Literacy List specifically on the Computer and other Digital Literacy Assessments and Lessons page.
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Pumarosa is available via smart phones, it is not an app, just google it. Mainly for Spanish speakers, it is phonetic with voice and covers a lot of ground. Excellent for pronunciation, basic vocabulary and verb tenses. I also have developed other lessons that are downloadable.